“Fishing has been kind of slow,” said veteran guide Lynn Atkinson of Zavalla, Texas, hardly a stone’s throw from the lake. “The shallow bite has been really tough and the deep bite has been really tough.”

Atkinson, who operates the Reel um N Guide Service on the lake, said the water temperature has been down in the low 50s for the past week.

“Once the fish adjust to the temperature the bite should pick up a little bit,” he said, “but we got about two inches of rain and we are expecting some more, so that is going to cool the water down again from any warm-up.”

But, he added another natural event could provide some relief for the WBS anglers next weekend.

“They fish usually move in around mid-January and when we get the full moon they should start moving up a little more,” he said. “The fish will be on the major points, working their way back in. Some of the big males will come up and they will be looking for a place.”

When they do, he said, the Rat-L-Trap fished along the grass line where the depth drops down from 3 to about 9 feet will be the key weapon for anglers.

“The Rat-L-Trap bite should be starting pretty good and that is the dominant bite on Rayburn. Red-colored Traps are the top lures, but sometimes you can get a good bite on a different-colored Trap. I fished with a blueback Trap one time and out-caught everybody 10 to one.

For information on fishing Sam Rayburn with Atkinson check out his website: http://www.reelumn.com/. To contact Atkinson, call him at (979) 220-0251(cell) or (936) 897-3400 (home), or email him at: [email protected].

The SE Texas Division schedule includes Jan. 10, Feb. 14 and March 14, all on Sam Rayburn out of Umphrey Pavilion, April 11 on Toledo Bend out of Fin & Feather Resort, with the championship Sept. 26-27 back on Sam Rayburn out of Umphrey Pavilion.

American Bass Anglers has announced updates to the Weekend Bass Series schedules and a rules clarification for the 2015 season.

Highlights for the 2015 Season:

Increased Payout: For 2015 the Weekend Bass Series will offer guaranteed first place boater money of:

• $3,000.00 for 50 boats or more
• $4,000.00 for 75 boats or more
• $5,000.00 for 100 boats or more

Co-anglers will also get the same guarantee first place money of:

• $1,500.00 for 50 boats or more
• $2,000.00 for 75 boats or more
• $2,500.00 for 100 boats or more

In addition, 20% of the field will receive a check in each event.

The rules change involves the controversial Alabama Rig. Starting this year ABA will prohibit the use of the Alabama Rig/Umbrella on all Weekend Bass Series events.

 

American Bass Anglers Weekend Series – Southeast Texas Division

Sat, Jan 10, 2015

Sam Rayburn

Umphrey Family Pavilion

www.americanbassanglers.com